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| name = Sevasadanam | | name = Sevasadanam | ||
| image = Sevasadanam 1938.jpg | | image = Sevasadanam 1938.jpg | ||
| caption = Poster | | caption = Poster | ||
| director = [[K. Subrahmanyam]] | | director = [[K. Subrahmanyam]] | ||
| Line 22: | Line 21: | ||
| gross = | | gross = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Sevasadanam''''' ({{Translation|House of Service}}) is a 1938 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil-language | '''''Sevasadanam''''' ({{Translation|House of Service}}) is a 1938 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[K. Subramanyam|K. Subrahmanyam]]. It is one of the early Tamil films to be set in a contemporary social setting and to advocate reformist social policies. This was the first film for [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] and the Tamil debut of Telugu actress [[S. Varalakshmi]].<ref name="A">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/07/10/stories/09100224.htm|title=The stamp of honour|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=10 July 2000|access-date=20 January 2017|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806041332/http://www.thehindu.com/2000/07/10/stories/09100224.htm|archive-date=6 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="B">{{cite book | first=S. Theodore| last=Baskaran | author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran | year= 1996| title=The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema | publisher= East West Books| location= Chennai| pages=15 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PhFlAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref name="C">{{cite book | first=Yves| last= Thoraval| year= 2000| title= The cinemas of India | publisher= Macmillan | location= India| pages=37 | isbn= 0-333-93410-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-OpkAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref name="D">{{cite book | first1= Ashish | last1=Rajadhyaksha| first2=Paul |last2=Willemen| year= 1994| title= Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema | publisher= British Film Institute| pages=259 | isbn=0-85170-455-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nOZkAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref name="E">{{cite book | last=Film News Anandan| language= ta| year= 2004 | title=Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru | publisher=Sivagami Publications| location= Chennai| pages=28:14}}</ref> | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
An abused wife Sumathi ([[M. S. Subbulakshmi]]) | An abused wife Sumathi ([[M. S. Subbulakshmi]]) is driven out of her house by her husband and later forced into prostitution. Later she reforms her ways and devotes her life to running an institution for the children of prostitutes. | ||
== Production == | == Production == | ||
After the success of ''[[Balayogini]]'' (1937), director Subramanyam was encouraged to make more socially oriented films. In 1938 he decided to make a film version of [[Premchand]]'s novel ''[[Bazaar-e-Husn]]''. While ''Balayogini'' was about the travails of widows, ''Sevasadanam'' dealt with domestic abuse, prostitution and women's liberation. Subramanyam wrote the screenplay himself and made the film under his Madras United Artists Corporation | After the success of ''[[Balayogini]]'' (1937), director Subramanyam was encouraged to make more socially oriented films. In 1938 he decided to make a film version of [[Premchand]]'s novel ''[[Bazaar-e-Husn]]'' and bought the rights for {{INR}}4,000 (worth {{INR}}7.2 million in 2021 prices). While ''Balayogini'' was about the travails of widows, ''Sevasadanam'' dealt with domestic abuse, prostitution and women's liberation. Subramanyam wrote the screenplay himself and made the film under his Madras United Artists Corporation banner.<ref name="C" /><ref name="D" /> The completed film was 18,900 feet in length with a run time of 210 minutes.<ref name="D" /><ref name="E" /> | ||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
*[[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] | *[[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] - Sumathi | ||
*[[F. G. Natesa Iyer]] -Eashwara Iyer | *[[F. G. Natesa Iyer]] - Eashwara Iyer | ||
*[[S. Varalakshmi]] | *[[S. Varalakshmi]] | ||
*S. G. Pattu Iyer | *S. G. Pattu Iyer | ||
| Line 47: | Line 46: | ||
As was the case with ''Balayogini'', conservative Hindus were upset with ''Sevasadanam''.<ref name="G">{{cite book | first=Gautam| last= Kaul| year= 1998| title= Cinema and the Indian freedom struggle: covering the subcontinent | publisher= Sterling Publishers| pages=84 | isbn= 81-207-2116-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WNxkAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> | As was the case with ''Balayogini'', conservative Hindus were upset with ''Sevasadanam''.<ref name="G">{{cite book | first=Gautam| last= Kaul| year= 1998| title= Cinema and the Indian freedom struggle: covering the subcontinent | publisher= Sterling Publishers| pages=84 | isbn= 81-207-2116-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WNxkAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> | ||
The veteran Marxist leader [[N. Sankaraiah]], has described Seva Sadhanam as an "unusual film" for choosing the subject of marriages between young girls and old men (which had social sanction). According to him, the film successfully | The veteran Marxist leader [[N. Sankaraiah]], has described Seva Sadhanam as an "unusual film" for choosing the subject of marriages between young girls and old men (which had social sanction). According to him, the film successfully brought out the "sufferings of the girl" and the "mental agony of the aged husband". Sankariah particularly appreciated Natesa Iyer's performance in the role of the old man, which he said " was impressive". Tamil film critic and historian Aranthai Narayanan observes in his book ''Thamizh Cinemavin Kathai'' (The Story of Tamil Cinema) that "Seva Sadhanam proved a turning point in the history of Tamil cinema. In the climax, the aged husband, now a totally changed man, was shown as casting aside with utter contempt his `sacred thread', which symbolises his Brahmin superiority. It came as a stunning blow to the then Brahmin orthodoxy."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2114/stories/20040716001508200.htm | last=Vishwanathan | first=S. | title=A progressive film maker; Tribute to K.Subramanian | volume=21 | issue=14 | date=3–16 July 2004 | work=Frontline | publisher=Hindu Publications | location=Chennai, Tamil Nadu}}</ref> | ||
== Availability == | == Availability == | ||
No print of ''Sevasadanam'' is known to survive, making it a [[lost film]]. While K. Subrahmanyam's family only have a few surviving photographs related to the film in their possession, the complete set of 78 rpm gramophone records in their original envelopes has survived in the collection of musicologist [[V. A. K. Ranga Rao]] in Chennai.<ref>{{cite book | title=M. S. Subbulakshmi: The Definitive Biography | publisher=Aleph Book Company | last=George | first=T. J. S. | author-link=T. J. S. George | year=2016 | | No print of ''Sevasadanam'' is known to survive, making it a [[lost film]]. While K. Subrahmanyam's family only have a few surviving photographs related to the film in their possession, the complete set of 78 rpm gramophone records in their original envelopes has survived in the collection of musicologist [[V. A. K. Ranga Rao]] in Chennai.<ref>{{cite book | title=M. S. Subbulakshmi: The Definitive Biography | publisher=Aleph Book Company | last=George | first=T. J. S. | author-link=T. J. S. George | year=2016 | pages=99 | isbn=978-93-84067-60-1 | orig-date=2004}}</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| Line 60: | Line 59: | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* {{IMDb title|0274825|Sevasadan}} | * {{IMDb title|0274825|Sevasadan}} | ||
* http://www.dhingana.com/maa-ramanan-song-sevasadanam-tamil-oldies-399aa31 | * {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130805103009/http://www.dhingana.com/maa-ramanan-song-sevasadanam-tamil-oldies-399aa31 Article title]}} | ||
*Film India Magazine 1938 at [https://archive.org/stream/filmindia193804unse#page/n37/mode/2up Archive.org] | *Film India Magazine 1938 at [https://archive.org/stream/filmindia193804unse#page/n37/mode/2up Archive.org] | ||
[[Category:1938 films]] | [[Category:1938 films]] | ||
[[Category:Adaptations of works by Premchand]] | [[Category:Adaptations of works by Premchand]] | ||
[[Category:1930s Tamil-language films]] | [[Category:1930s Tamil-language films]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1938 Indian films]] | ||
[[Category:Indian drama films]] | [[Category:Films scored by Papanasam Sivan]] | ||
[[Category:Lost Indian drama films]] | |||
[[Category:1938 drama films]] | [[Category:1938 drama films]] | ||
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]] | [[Category:Indian black-and-white films]] | ||
[[Category:1938 lost films]] | [[Category:1938 lost films]] | ||
[[Category:Films directed by K. Subramanyam]] | [[Category:Films directed by K. Subramanyam]] | ||
[[Category:Films based on works by Premchand]] | |||
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]] | |||
Latest revision as of 06:01, 10 January 2026
| Sevasadanam | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | K. Subrahmanyam |
| Produced by | K. Subrahmanyam |
| Written by | Premchand K. Subramanyam |
| Starring | M. S. Subbulakshmi F. G. Natesa Iyer S. G. Pattu Iyer S. Varalakshmi |
| Music by | Papanasam Sivan |
| Cinematography | Sailen Bose Ellappa Rama Rao |
| Edited by | Dharam Veer Singh |
Release date |
|
Running time | 210 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Sevasadanam (transl. House of Service) is a 1938 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Subrahmanyam. It is one of the early Tamil films to be set in a contemporary social setting and to advocate reformist social policies. This was the first film for M. S. Subbulakshmi and the Tamil debut of Telugu actress S. Varalakshmi.[1][2][3][4][5]
Plot[edit | edit source]
An abused wife Sumathi (M. S. Subbulakshmi) is driven out of her house by her husband and later forced into prostitution. Later she reforms her ways and devotes her life to running an institution for the children of prostitutes.
Production[edit | edit source]
After the success of Balayogini (1937), director Subramanyam was encouraged to make more socially oriented films. In 1938 he decided to make a film version of Premchand's novel Bazaar-e-Husn and bought the rights for ₹4,000 (worth ₹7.2 million in 2021 prices). While Balayogini was about the travails of widows, Sevasadanam dealt with domestic abuse, prostitution and women's liberation. Subramanyam wrote the screenplay himself and made the film under his Madras United Artists Corporation banner.[3][4] The completed film was 18,900 feet in length with a run time of 210 minutes.[4][5]
Cast[edit | edit source]
- M. S. Subbulakshmi - Sumathi
- F. G. Natesa Iyer - Eashwara Iyer
- S. Varalakshmi
- S. G. Pattu Iyer
- Kumari Kamala
- "Jolly" Kittu Iyer
- Jayalakshmi
- Ram Pyari
Reception[edit | edit source]
Sevasadanam was released on 2 May 1938. It was a critical and commercial success.[5] Ananda Vikatan favourably reviewed the film on 8 May 1938:
We should always expect somethings from Subramaniam's direction – for instance depiction of social ills.. If we have to say only two words about this talkie based on Premchand's story it is – Go see (it).[6]
As was the case with Balayogini, conservative Hindus were upset with Sevasadanam.[7]
The veteran Marxist leader N. Sankaraiah, has described Seva Sadhanam as an "unusual film" for choosing the subject of marriages between young girls and old men (which had social sanction). According to him, the film successfully brought out the "sufferings of the girl" and the "mental agony of the aged husband". Sankariah particularly appreciated Natesa Iyer's performance in the role of the old man, which he said " was impressive". Tamil film critic and historian Aranthai Narayanan observes in his book Thamizh Cinemavin Kathai (The Story of Tamil Cinema) that "Seva Sadhanam proved a turning point in the history of Tamil cinema. In the climax, the aged husband, now a totally changed man, was shown as casting aside with utter contempt his `sacred thread', which symbolises his Brahmin superiority. It came as a stunning blow to the then Brahmin orthodoxy."[8]
Availability[edit | edit source]
No print of Sevasadanam is known to survive, making it a lost film. While K. Subrahmanyam's family only have a few surviving photographs related to the film in their possession, the complete set of 78 rpm gramophone records in their original envelopes has survived in the collection of musicologist V. A. K. Ranga Rao in Chennai.[9]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "The stamp of honour". The Hindu. 10 July 2000. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ↑ Baskaran, S. Theodore (1996). The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema. Chennai: East West Books. p. 15.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thoraval, Yves (2000). The cinemas of India. India: Macmillan. p. 37. ISBN 0-333-93410-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. p. 259. ISBN 0-85170-455-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru (in தமிழ்). Chennai: Sivagami Publications. pp. 28:14.
- ↑ Arandhai Narayanan (2008). Arambakala Tamil Cinema (1931–41) (in தமிழ்). Chennai: Vijaya Publications. p. 26.
- ↑ Kaul, Gautam (1998). Cinema and the Indian freedom struggle: covering the subcontinent. Sterling Publishers. p. 84. ISBN 81-207-2116-0.
- ↑ Vishwanathan, S. (3–16 July 2004). "A progressive film maker; Tribute to K.Subramanian". Frontline. Vol. 21, no. 14. Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Hindu Publications.
- ↑ George, T. J. S. (2016) [2004]. M. S. Subbulakshmi: The Definitive Biography. Aleph Book Company. p. 99. ISBN 978-93-84067-60-1.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Sevasadan on IMDb
- Article title[usurped]
- Film India Magazine 1938 at Archive.org